Small caliber regret

OneMore

FNG
Joined
Jun 5, 2025
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Anyone swapped to a small cartridge such as 6 creed and had regret? Obviously the small rounds are getting tons of love nowadays.
 
I regret not doing it 10 years earlier. I own two 308 barrels, but the largest I have shot over the past year and a half is 243 and I gave a lot of my 308 ammo to a friend recently.
 
Are you limited to 1 rifle?
The quick answer is no. But im kind of a one gun type guy, the gun safe might argue that though. Looking to put together a new rig and am going 6creed. Very rarely will it leave middle TN and I know it will work here just “fine”. Didn’t know if someone had made the switch and missed their old caliber rifles.
 
I consistently bring my 22ARC and 7PRC and 6.5CM to the range to shoot side by side. All are fun to shoot suppressed coming from an unsuppressed 300WM and 30-06, but the ARC and CM are definitely more fun recoil wise.

The 7PRC, however, is noticeably easier to get consistent impacts at 400+ yards in variable and high wind conditions simply due to the much higher BC. At my conditions, it’s a 10mph wind gun with 180 ELD-Ms vs about half that with the ARC. I have a ton more confidence in longer shots hitting true with the magnum from my extended range time in variable conditions. Maybe that will change as I continue to shoot them side by side, but if I had big money on the line for a long shot, right now I’m choosing the 7.
 
I consistently bring my 22ARC and 7PRC and 6.5CM to the range to shoot side by side. All are fun to shoot suppressed coming from an unsuppressed 300WM and 30-06, but the ARC and CM are definitely more fun recoil wise.

The 7PRC, however, is noticeably easier to get consistent impacts at 400+ yards in variable and high wind conditions simply due to the much higher BC. At my conditions, it’s a 10mph wind gun with 180 ELD-Ms vs about half that with the ARC. I have a ton more confidence in longer shots hitting true with the magnum from my extended range time in variable conditions. Maybe that will change as I continue to shoot them side by side, but if I had big money on the line for a long shot, right now I’m choosing the 7.
I have a .280AI that is the same way - it makes wind calls look easy, ridiculously so compared to any 5.56. Bigger faster higher BC projectiles still win in the wind and always will. But the thing is, my hunting style and spots, simply don't demand that I shoot past 400, or in high winds, much less both at the same time.
 
I have shot a lot more since going to 6CM and 25CM. I have a 7PRC that sits now. I was just today thinking about what I should do with it. I may swap back to a 280AI for my "bigger" cartridge.
 
I have shot a lot more since going to 6CM and 25CM. I have a 7PRC that sits now. I was just today thinking about what I should do with it. I may swap back to a 280AI for my "bigger" cartridge.
Not arguing, you get to do what you want. But 7PRC can shoot heavier bullets faster. You are implying that 280AI is "more powerful". Just curious what you mean there. Or do you just like 280AI better?
 
When 180 grain bullets from a 30-06 created more recoil than my dad was willing to tolerate I got him to transition to a 7mm-08. Almost 60 years of the 30-06 is the standard by which all other cartridges are measured was a tough habit to break. Gotta say, he enjoyed shooting the Mighty -08 and he never looked back.
 
Wish I had changed over sooner. I've shot over 700 rounds of 6CM this year. I would have never done that with a larger cartridge. I have also taken two animals with it so far and have only been impressed.

My wife, who has not shot a centerfire rifle in well over a decade, shot a 1.1" 11 shot group with it yesterday. She remarked how easy and not "scary" it is to shoot. I sincerely doubt her sentiments or group size would have been the same with my old trusty '06 or .270.
 
I shot one deer with my 223 77 tmk. It killed the whitetail doe very effectively, but i did not like not having ant blood trail. I switched back to my 308 for hunting, but still shoot my 223 a lot as a trainer.
 
I haven’t regretted it one bit.
Not arguing, you get to do what you want. But 7PRC can shoot heavier bullets faster. You are implying that 280AI is "more powerful". Just curious what you mean there. Or do you just like 280AI better?
You missed the point I believe. I don’t think he’s implying it as more powerful, but more pleasurable to shoot. The bigger issue with the bigger calibers is you have to shoot a heavier bullet to match bc and then the recoil factor goes up.
 
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